Fatwa ID: 04564

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

Assalaamu Alaykum. We have a Madrasa which also has a jamaat khana, it is used for 5 times salah, Jumua Eid as well. It has not been declared as a Shari Masjid.
 
The question is, during i'tikaf, can those doing i'tikaf take the basement which is directly beneath the  Jamaat khana as part of the jamaat khana as would be in a Shari masjid.
 
The basement has a kitchen and shower room. If so, can they sleep there? and eat there? If not, would it have been permissible it was a Shari masjid?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

There are three conditions for the Itikaf to be considered valid.  They are:

1. The Itikaf is done in such a Masjid where the five daily prayers with the congregation take place.
2. The intention is made to stay in the Masjid.
3. To be free from major impurities such as from janabah, menstruation blood, and nifaas (post-natal bleeding).   (Ilmul Fiqh p.46 v.3)

With regards to your question, Mufti Abdur Rahim Lajpuri (RA) has said that it is permissible to perform i'tikaf in a Musallah where most of the prayers are held in the congregation and Inshallah one will be rewarded for his action by Allah (SWA). (Fatawa Rahimiyah p.209 v.5)

Mufti Rashid Ahmad Ludhyanwi (RA) has written that the Salah being performed in congregation is not a condition in that particular masjid or mussalah where the Itikaf is being performed.   (Ahsanul Fatawa p.507 v.4)

However, one should observe the i'tikaf in the Musallah and not in the basement even though the basement may be directly beneath the Musallah. The areas above and below a Sharee masjid are considered to be part of the masjid. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.162 v.18) However, this principle does not apply to a Musallah. Therefore, the conclusion we can come to is that one should do the Itikaf in the Musallah and not in the basement. One should sleep and eat in the Musallah. However, some scholars have said that as it is a Musallah and not a Sharee Masjid it is permissible for him to leave the Musallah to eat or to go to the toilet. Brothers who will be in i'tikaf in the Musallah may wish to act upon this opinion and eat in the basement area. (Masail Itikaf p.42)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.